TECHNICAL REPORT
EVALUATION OF THE RUNNING-BASED ANAEROBIC
SPRINT TEST AS A MEASURE OF REPEATED SPRINT
ABILITY IN COLLEGIATE-LEVEL SOCCER PLAYERS
DANIEL A. KEIR, FRANCIS THERIAULT, AND OLIVIER SERRESSE
School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
ABSTRACT
Keir, DA, Theriault, F, and Serresse, O. Evaluation of the
running-based anaerobic sprint test as a measure of repeated
sprint ability in collegiate-level soccer players. J Strength Cond
Res 27(6): 16711678, 2013Repeated sprint ability (RSA)
refers to an individuals ability to perform maximal sprints of
short duration in succession with little recovery between
sprints. The running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) has
been adapted from the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) pro-
tocol as a tool to assess RSA and anaerobic power. The pur-
pose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between
performance variables and physiological responses obtained
during the RAST and the WAnT using 8 collegiate-level soccer
players. Participants performed a single trial of both the WAnT
and the RAST. Breath-by-breath gas exchange was monitored
throughout each trial, and blood lactate (BL) measures were
recorded postexercise. The oxygen uptake (VO2) profile sug-
gested that the RAST required greater contributions from aer-
obic metabolism although there was no difference in V O2peak
(p , 0.05). Peak BL values were also similar between the
RAST and the WAnT (p , 0.05). Neither peak physiological
values nor performance variables (peak and mean power) were
significantly correlated between protocols. The weak associa-
tion in physiological responses indicates that different combi-
nations of metabolic contributions exist between protocols,
suggesting that individual performances on each test are not
related in collegiate soccer players. Further studies on these
relationships with players of other competitive levels and team
sport athletes are warranted.
KEY WORDS performance, anaerobic, Wingate, field test,
soccer
Address correspondence to Olivier Serresse, oserresse@laurentian.ca.
27(6)/16711678
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
2013 National Strength and Conditioning Association
Copyright National Strength and Conditioning Association Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
INTRODUCTION
T
he ability to produce repeated sprints efforts is an
important determinant of performance within
field-based team sports (25). Repeated sprint
ability (RSA) refers to an individuals ability to
perform maximal sprint efforts of short duration in succes-
sion with little recovery between sprints (5). In the game of
soccer (for example), players with high RSA are more likely
to perform at a higher level compared with players who
have a lower ability to reproduce sprint efforts at a maximal
intensity (6). Indeed, it has been shown that repeated sprint
test performance before and after elite soccer matches is
extensively reduced with fatigue development (13). Thus,
the ability to delay fatigue during repeated sprint exercise
may have large implications to performance. It is therefore
important for coaches and trainers to be able to reliably test
the RSA of their athletes to assess sport-specific fitness and
efficacy of training.
An effective test of RSA should be reflective of the sport-
specific movement patterns observed during competition.
Burgess et al. (8) reported that national soccer players cov-
ered 1.1 km by means of sprinting (.18 km$h21) during
a single match. Other groups have also reported notable
distances covered during matches by means of sprinting
(17,22). In those studies, reported mean distance and dura-
tion of sprints seem to be quite similar ranging from 10 to
20 m and 23 seconds, respectively (25). Furthermore,
Spencer et al. (27) focused on the recovery time between
sprint bouts during team sport competition and highlighted
that frequently recovery pauses between sprints were of
short duration (020 seconds). These results suggest that
repeated sprint exercise often occurs during matches.
Because RSA has been hypothesized to be an indicator of
in-match physical performance (21) and a necessary compo-
nent of fitness in field-based team sports, standardized assess-
ment becomes increasingly important (25). Numerous
exercise protocols for testing RSA have been developed but
are marked by disparities in sprint duration, sprint frequency,
recovery time, and type of recovery. Evaluated RSA protocols
have generally involved 510 sprints, spanning 1040 m (or
46 seconds) with 1025 seconds of either passive or active
recovery between sprint bouts (6,15,18,26). Repeated sprint
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 Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test

correlations of peak power

(PP), mean power (MP), and
TABLE 1. Summary of performance and peak physiological measurements
recorded during both the RAST and the WAnT. fatigue index (FI) with the
WAnT (29,30). However, nei-
RAST (n = 8), WAnT (n = 8), ther of those studies used
mean 6 SD mean 6 SD p value elite-level athletes (rather rec-
PP (W) 758 6 83 861 6 78 0.01* reationally active and members
MP (W) 621 6 60 697 6 48 0.003* of the military) nor did
PP interval (per sprint 758 6 83 812 6 69 0.13 they evaluate physiological
or 5-s average) (W) responses during the RAST,
MP interval (per sprint 622 6 60 694 6 43 0.03* such as pulmonary oxygen
or 5-s average) (W)
Relative power (W$kg21) 10.3 6 0.8 11.5 6 0.5 0.05 uptake (V O2). The purpose of
BLpeak (mmol$L ) 21 14.8 6 2.8 14.1 6 2.2 0.51 this study was to evaluate the
relationship between perfor-
RAST = running-based anaerobic sprint test; WanT = Wingate anaerobic test; PP = peak mance variables and physiolog-
power; MP = mean power; BLpeak = peak blood lactate.
Values represent group means 6 SD. ical responses obtained during
*Denotes significant difference between RAST and WAnT. the RAST and the WAnT using
collegiate-level soccer players.
We hypothesized that the sim-
ilarities in total duration of
exercise involves a significant contribution from anaerobic maximal exercise intensity for each protocol would yield high
sources (11), and thus, RSA tests have been used as indicators agreement in terms of both performance and physiological
of anaerobic power. For this reason, newly developed RSA responses.
testing protocols have been assessed for validity through com-
parisons with the popular laboratory-based assessment of METHODS
anaerobic power, the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) (2,30). Experimental Approach to the Problem
The running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) has been The WAnT has previously been used as test by which RSA
developed to test anaerobic power using a repeated sprint protocols are validated (2,30). It is therefore necessary to
protocol with variables that are analogous to the WAnT determine whether both WAnT performance and physiolog-
(29). The RAST involves six 35-m sprints separated by 10 ical responses are indeed related to the repeated sprint-type
seconds of recovery. The distances and recovery time char- efforts that might be expected during match play. If both the
acteristic of the RAST protocol suggest that it might be an performance and physiological responses of the RAST dis-
ideal test to evaluate the RSA of field-based team sport play agreement with those of the WAnT, the RAST could
athletes. Previous evaluations of the RAST have examined therefore be used as a suitable replacement to the WAnT
for assessing anaerobic fitness
while incorporating running
locomotion and repeated sprint
movement, characteristics that
are inherent to most team
sports. In this regard, the
present study tested whether
there would be a relationship
between physiological and
analogous performance varia-
bles obtained from both RAST
and WAnT protocols using
collegiate-level soccer players.
Measurements of V O2, blood
lactate (BL), and heart rate
(HR) were used to examine
the physiological differences
and relationships between pro-
Figure 1. Group mean power output (in watts) expressed per sprint (running-based anaerobic sprint test, black)
and per 5-second interval (Wingate anaerobic test, gray). Significant differences between protocols denoted by tocols, and PP and MP were
asterisks (p , 0.05). used to examine performance
relationships.
the TM

1672 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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a minimum of 48 hours. Sub-

jects were instructed to avoid
vigorous exercise and alcohol
consumption 48 hours before
testing. Subjects were also
instructed to ingest a meal 2
hours before testing and to
maintain an adequate hydra-
tion level. A familiarization
session was conducted before
testing to give participants an
opportunity to become accus-
tomed to both protocols.
Guidance regarding proper
nutritional intake and hydra-
tion strategy was also pro-
vided at that time.

Running-Based Anaerobic
Sprint Test
The RAST protocol was fol-
lowed according to the guide-
lines developed at the University
of Wolverhampton, United King-
dom, and as reported previ-
ously (30). Briefly, the RAST
involved six 35-m maximal
sprint efforts separated by 10
seconds of recovery (including
deceleration phase). Infrared
photocell gates (Speed Trap1;
Brower Timing Systems,
Figure 2. Group mean V O2 (in liters per minute) and heart rate (HR, in beats per minute) responses to running- Draper, UT, USA) (placed pre-
based anaerobic sprint test (black circles) and Wingate anaerobic test (gray circles) protocol. Significant cisely 35 m apart) were used to
differences between protocols denoted by asterisks (p , 0.05). Time 0 indicates onset of exercise. determine the duration of each
sprint interval. Participants
were verbally instructed as to
Subjects when the recovery stage was complete after each bout.
Eight male collegiate-level soccer players (age: 20.8 6 1.5 Before testing, participants were required to complete
years; height: 175.9 6 5.2 cm; mass: 74.6 6 4.4 kg) without a 5-minute warm-up involving jogging and 2 short duration
any known orthopedic, neuromuscular, or cardiovascular sprint efforts (3 seconds) at the end of the third and
problems volunteered to participate in this investigation. fifth minutes. After a 5-minute passive rest period, participants
All players recruited for the study were in the off-season reported to a photocell gate, the test administrator counted
period of play and were performing resistance and endur- down from 3, and on GO, subjects were instructed to sprint
ance training approximately 3 times per week. Each partic- as fast as they could to the opposite gate. The test adminis-
ipant was informed of the purposes, procedures, risks, and trator would then countdown from 5, and on GO, the par-
study details and subsequently signed an informed consent ticipant would sprint back to the first cell gate. This procedure
form. The study was conducted according to the Declaration was repeated until 6 sprints were completed. Participants were
of Helsinki and ethical standards in sport and exercise sci- allowed to accelerate for a maximum of 1 step before passing
ence research, and approval was obtained from the Univer- through the photocell gait. Sprint and recovery times were
sitys Ethics Review Board. collected instantaneously on a PC via a National Instrument
Subjects were required to perform a trial of both the card (NI USB-6009, 14-bit resolution). Three testers were
RAST and the WAnT on 2 separate occasions. All testing present at all times. One was in charge of the interfaced PC
was performed during mid-afternoon. The order of tests for recording sprint times, the second ensured that the recov-
was randomly assigned and each one was separated by ery times were not exceeded, and the third monitored the

VOLUME 27 | NUMBER 6 | JUNE 2013 | 1673

Copyright National Strength and Conditioning Association Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
 Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test
Figure 3. Group mean blood lactate (BL; millimoles per liter) responses to running-based anaerobic sprint test power output were also com-
(RAST; black circles) and Wingate anaerobic test (WanT; gray circles) protocol at time points corresponding to
pre-exercise and 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes postexercise. Significant differences between protocol denoted by
asterisk (p , 0.05).
portable metabolic telemetry system (VIASYS, Yorba Linda,
CA, USA) and provided verbal encouragement to the sub-
jects. After test termination, participants were required to con-
tinue submaximal exercise (jogging) for 15 minutes.
Wingate Anaerobic Test
The procedure for the Wingate was conducted in accor-
dance with protocol outlined by Serresse et al. (24). Before
testing, participants warmed up for 5 minutes at 50 W. The
warm-up period included two 3-second maximal sprints at
the end of the third and fifth minutes. After a 5-minute rest
period (passive recovery), the test administrator counted
down from 3, and on GO, participants were instructed to
pedal as fast as they could. A predetermined workload cor-
responding to 7.5% of the body weight was applied to a Mon-
ark cycling ergometer (Monark Exercise AB, Vansbro,
Sweden) immediately after the test was initiated. The pedals
were strapped to the feet and standing was not permitted
during the test. An acceleration phase was also not permit-
ted. The participants were required to pedal as fast as pos-
sible for 30 seconds and received verbal encouragement
throughout the duration of the test. Power outputs (watts)
were recorded using custom designed software at each sec-
ond during the test. Peak power (PP) was identified as the
highest recorded power output, relative power (RP) was the
PP normalized to body mass (in watts$per kilogram), and
mean power (MP) was computed as the mean of the second-
by-second power outputs recorded. Participants were
required to continue cycling (50 W) for 15 minutes after test
termination.
Performance Measurements
During the RAST, the power output (in watts) of each sprint
was obtained from the following equations:
the
1674 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
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Speed (m$s21) = distance O
time
Acceleration (m$s22) =
speed O time
Force (kg$m22 or N) = body
mass 3 acceleration
Power (N$m$s21 or watts) =
force 3 speed.
Peak power was defined as
the highest power output
recorded of the 6 sprints. Mean
power was the calculated aver-
age of all 6 sprints, and RP was
determined from the power
output relative to body mass
in kilograms.
Five-second averages of
puted from the second-by-
second power outputs recorded
during the WAnT. This was
done to compare power output
intervals of the RAST with the averaged intervals of the
WAnT because second-by-second power output data were
not obtained from the RAST.
Physiological Measurements
Metabolic measurements during each session were obtained
using a portable VmaxST telemetry system (VIASYS) for
which validity and reliability have been reported (7,14).
Briefly, the portable system consists of a facemask and
battery-powered unit attached to the participant with a har-
ness. The system measures O2 uptake (V O2) via an electro-
chemical cell from expired gas samples collected at the
mouth. Data were transmitted from the unit to a computer
via telemetry for metabolic calculations using metabolic stress
test software (Metasoft, Version 1.11.2; Cortex Biophsik,
Leipzig, Germany). The gas analyzers and flow turbine were
calibrated before each testing session according to the manu-
facturers guidelines.
Breath-by-breath V O2 (in liters per minute) was collected
during each trial. V O2 data were filtered by removing aber-
rant data points that laid 4 SD from the local mean. Data
were then linearly interpolated into 1-second intervals and
averaged into 5-second time bins. The data were also
time aligned such that time corresponding to 0 seconds
occurred at the onset of the test. Participants V O2peak was
identified from the highest 5-second V O2 during each test.
Capillary blood lactate concentration (millimoles per
liter) was determined using a LacatePro portable lactate
analyzer (Arkay, Inc, Kyoto, Japan), whose reliability has
been reported elsewhere (19). Blood samples (approxi-
mately 5 mL) were collected from capillaries at the distal
end of the fingers before both the WAnT and the RAST
and at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes postexercise. BLpeak
TM
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Figure 4. Influence of performance and peak physiological variables achieved on the running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) to those achieved in the
Wingate anaerobic test (WanT). R2 values in the panels represent the correlation coefficients. Note: peak power (PP) for the WAnT was computed from the
highest 5-second average.

was considered to be the highest concentration recorded RESULTS

during the posttest period. Exercise HR was monitored
using a Polar Heart Rate device (Polar, Kempele, Finland)
and was recorded with every breath via the VmaxST
telemetry system. The HRpeak was determined from the
highest HR recorded during the exercise test. During the
posttest period, ventilatory and gas exchange parameters
as well as HR were continuously measured for 20 minutes.
Statistical Analyses
Means and SDs were calculated for each parameter.
Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were conducted before statistical
analysis and confirmed that data were normally distributed.
Paired t-tests were used to compare test differences in gas
exchange and HR variables. A linear regression model was
used to examine the influence of each protocol on peak phys-
iological and performance variables. A level of p # 0.05 was
used to identify statistical significance.
Table 1 displays a summary of the mean values (6SD) for
both the performance and peak physiological measurements
recorded during both the RAST and the WAnT. Significantly
greater values for both PP and MP (t(7) = 3.46, p = 0.01 and
t(7) = 4.41, p = 0.03) were observed in the WAnT. When
WAnT PP was identified from the highest 5-second average
of power output (rather than second-by-second), PP
decreased from 861 to 812 watts, and the difference from
the RAST was no longer significant (t(7) = 1.696, p = 0.13).
However, MP remained significantly higher (t(7) = 2.701,
p = 0.03), 694 watts compared with 622 watts. Figure 1
displays the mean power output for each sprint interval
(RAST) compared with power output from the WAnT par-
titioned into six 5-second intervals.
Figure 2 displays the time course of V O2 and HR responses
during the preexercise and exercise periods. The data

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 Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test
corresponding to the 10-second rest intervals during the
RAST were omitted, so that only the exercise periods are
represented. RAST V O2 was slightly elevated throughout
exercise relative to the WAnT and was significantly greater
after 15 and 20 seconds (t(6) = 2.490, p = 0.047; and t(6) =
3.651, p = 0.011, respectively) of cumulative maximal exercise;
however, the elevation did not persist beyond 20 seconds
(p . 0.05). Therefore, V O2peak was not significantly different
between tests. Heart rate was significantly greater in the
RAST throughout the entire duration of exercise.
Blood lactate rose above pre-exercise levels and remained
elevated throughout recovery (Figure 3). No significant differ-
ence was observed between test-specific BLpeak (t(7) = 20.694,
p = 0.51). In most participants, BLpeak occurred at 5 minutes
postexercise; however, some were identified at 1 minute
postexercise.
Correlation analyses are presented in Figure 4. There were
no significant correlations between peaks in V O2, HR, or
BLpeak (r2 = 0.33, p = 0.177; r2 = 0.38, p = 0.138; r2 = 0.10,
p = 0.436, respectively) obtained from the RAST
versus WAnT. Additionally, RAST-derived PP and MP
were not significantly correlated with the WAnT (r2 = 021,
p = 0.256; r2 = 0.38, p = 0.105, respectively).
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship
between performance variables and physiological responses
obtained during the RAST and the WAnT using collegiate-
level soccer players. The principal findings were: (a) there
was a low correlation for the measures of performance
between the RAST and WAnT and (2) participants elicited
a greater aerobic contribution during the RAST. The poor
relatability between WAnT and RAST outcome variables
indicates that performance is not as closely associated
between test protocols as initially hypothesized, and thus,
the WAnT may not be the best method by which RSA
testing protocol should be validated.
Poor correlations were obtained for both PP and MP
between RAST and WAnT protocol (r = 0.51 and r = 0.32,
respectively; Figure 4), indicating weak agreement between
performance variables. In contrast, Zagatto et al. (30)
reported significant correlations for PP and MP between
protocols (r = 0.46 and r = 0.53, respectively). It is important
to consider that the aforementioned study used moderately
active male participants from the armed forces, whereas the
present study used collegiate-level soccer players. The spec-
ificity of training and vast exposure to repeated sprint activity
in the soccer player cohort likely resulted in a more homog-
enous sample with respect to level of RSA, whereas the
military-trained group may have been more heterogenous
with respect to fitness level and exposure to repeated sprint
exercise. For this reason, the significant correlations reported
by Zagatto et al. (30) may have occurred because less
fit individuals are more likely to perform poorly on both
tests compared with more fit individuals. A group displaying
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1676 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
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a heterogeneous level of RSA could reduce the sensitivity of
a study designed to assess the correlation between perfor-
mance on the RAST and the WAnT. Furthermore, because
second-by-second power output was not computed during
the RAST, power output measured during the WAnT was
averaged into 5-second bins. Thus, 6 maximal sprint intervals
that were similar in duration to those of the RAST (Figure 1)
were generated. Although it is acknowledged that the dura-
tion of each sprint in the RAST varied (4.46.3 seconds), the
average sprint time for all subjects was approximately 5 sec-
onds (5.3 6 0.4). Greater PP associated with individual
sprints within the RAST (compared with those reported)
may have been obtained had the power output been mea-
sured every 5 m over the course of each 35-m sprint. For
these reasons, the 5-second average data from the WAnT
were used to compare both tests; however, this did not result
in significant correlations between performance measures as
previously reported (30).
The WAnT has been used in the past to assess the
validity of RSA testing protocol (2,30). The present study
suggests that the WAnT may not be an appropriate method
by which to establish RSA test validity as WAnT perfor-
mance (PP and MP) and physiological responses in a group
of soccer players was not related to RSA as assessed by the
RAST. Although validity of other RSA testing protocol has
been evaluated using other laboratory-based test compar-
isons (9), an alternative method is to relate RSA test
performance to indicators of sport performance, such as
sport-specific competition level (e.g., professional vs. semi-
professional) (1,12,28) or physiological responses during
play (20). To provide insight into the validity of the RAST
as it relates to on-field performance, further analysis
between RAST-specific performance, individual sports,
and playing level must be investigated.
The V O2 and HR profiles observed in the RAST were
slightly elevated with respect to that of the WAnT through-
out the entire exercise duration. This is likely explained by
the mode of exercise required between tests. Because run-
ning requires contributions from muscles of the upper
extremities and postural muscles, the greater proportion of
active muscle and therefore greater cardiac output require-
ment in running compared with cycling would likely
account for the elevation in both V O2 and HR during max-
imal exercise as suggested previously (16,23). It should also
be noted that only the exercise intervals were considered
when comparing V O2 profiles (Figure 2). The significant dif-
ferences in V O2 observed at 15 and 20 seconds may suggest
that the RAST induces a greater depletion of phosphocrea-
tine stores during the first 3 sprint intervals; thus, greater
ATP requirements must be compensated for by an increased
contribution of aerobic metabolism during progressive
sprints. This finding has implications for aerobic training to
improve RSA, and indeed, this notion has been suggested
previously (4).

Based on the large changes in BL from pre-exercise, it
seems that a large proportion of energy expenditure was
provided via rapid glycolytic ATP resynthesis. The BLpeak
was not different between the WAnT and the RAST, indicat-
ing similar glycolytic contributions by proportion. It has been
estimated that the energy demands of a 30-second WAnT are
contributed via the phosphogenic (23%), anaerobic glycolytic
(49%), and oxidative (28%) metabolic pathways (24).
Although the importance of the anaerobic glycolytic compo-
nent to energy production during the WAnT has been
emphasized (3), its relative contribution to improving RSA
remains to be elucidated (10). The similarities in BLpeak sug-
gest that the quantities of ATP resynthesized via anaerobic
glycolysis were similar between protocols. However, it is dif-
ficult to assess its precise contribution due in part to the
differences in measurement timing and recovery between
protocols. The BLpeak was identified for all subjects at either
1 minute or 5 minutes postexercise. Lactate metabolism may
have been affected during recovery by exercise mode. It is
possible that the true BLpeak occurred between the first and
fifth minute of recovery and that the peak was dependent on
type of exercise. This may explain why BLpeak was not sig-
nificantly correlated between protocols while mean BLpeak
were not significantly different.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
The RAST is a reliable (30) and simple field test that can be
easily performed and adequately mimics the parameters of
repeated sprint activity during field-based team sports.
Although the WAnT has been used as a tool to assess anaer-
obic power for several running-based team sports, the poor
relatability with the RAST (as demonstrated in the present
study) suggests that the WAnT cannot be used as a surrogate
for field-based tests designed to assess components of anaer-
obic fitness. Therefore, an alternative test protocol should be
used when assessing anaerobic power. Because the RAST
can be used to estimate both anaerobic power (PP and MP)
and RSA (FI), it seems to be a suitable alternative to the
WAnT. It is therefore recommended that the RAST be used
as an assessment tool for coaches and trainers although
future research is warranted to establish RAST validity for
team sport athletes. Furthermore, the V O2 data suggest that
despite test similarities and outcome measures, the RAST
likely involves a greater contribution from aerobic metabo-
lism and therefore aerobic training may improve RAST and
thus repeated sprint performance.
Future research designs using the WAnT as a means by
which to validate RSA testing protocol should be interpreted
with caution as both physiological and performance varia-
bles obtained from the RAST displayed weak agreement
with those of the WAnT. Further studies comparing the
physiological response relationships within matches to those
of the RAST and with players of other competitive levels and
team sport athletes are required to establish the validity of
the RAST protocol.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors have no conflicts of interest that are relevant to
the content of the paper. Nor was any funding used to assist
in conducting the investigation.
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